Christmas Vacation 2011

15 flannel PJ bottoms

1 man’s dress shirt

2 ruffled knitted scarves

3 audio books

1400 pages (3 novels)

1 trip to Redding

3 trips to town

1.5 inches of rain

4 horse feedings by myself

5 student recommendations (13 hours)

1 unfinished grant

75 ungraded papers

0 rides ahorseback

2 weeks vacation (is it really over already?)

Winter Solstice 2011

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year--it was also touted as the longest night of the year. Hmm. Which one is the most positive outlook? I guess, like everything else, it is in the eye of the beholder. According many "doomsday" people, this is the last year of the world. There will be "a final event that includes a solar shift, a Venus transit and violent earthquakes." It all ends on December 21, 2012. This idea started because of the Mayan prediction (stated above) and the Mayan calendar ends on that day.  According to ABC News website, "In southern Mexico, the heart of Maya territory, a yearlong celebration is planned." I love that idea! Let's celebrate life all year.


They are "selling the date, the Winter Solstice in the coming year, as a time of renewal, [because] many archeologists argue that the 2012 reference on a 1,300-year-old stone tablet only marks the end of a cycle in the Mayan calendar. 'The world will not end. It is an era,' said Yeanet Zaldo, a tourism spokeswoman for the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun. 'For us, it is a message of hope.'” Even better! Renewal, hope, and celebrating--I think 2012 will be my kind of year.

Here's Your Sign. . .

On my way to town Saturday night (after a fun two days of riding!), I had an epiphany--before I bought Jupiter, Shirley said it was important that I find the horse that fit me. She said I would know him when I saw him. She said no one could pick him for me. Her final words were: "It's like picking a husband--no one can choose for you."

Well, if you scroll back through the blog posts, I am sure there's at least one where I laughed and said I had not done so well in that department since I am so obviously single. I think I thought it was a pretty good joke. Even Susie said she had done better picking horses than husbands since she was on husband #3. It was all cute and I liked it. I thought it was funny. Then I saw him. I fell in love with that horse as soon I as laid eyes on him. There was no getting around it--he was comin home with us--it was love at first sight.

However, as Jupes and I continue to work on becoming partners, it is becoming more and more clear--I picked a horse just I pick guys. Easy on the eyes. Fun to watch from a distance. And ornery. And difficult. If he had a car, he'd drive too fast. If he went to parties, he'd probably drink too much and fight around. If he doesn't have enough to do, he gets himself in trouble. He looks for it--trouble doesn't find him--he finds it all by himself. He's one of those short cowboys who knows he's all that and a bag of chips--just ask him and he'll tell ya. He's a bad boy all the way around. He has a temper. He wants his way.  He's not the top of the pecking order, but he's best friends with who is and that's all that matters.

How many times have I been off him? How many times has he made me scream because he scared me? How many times have I yelled in his ear, "Doggone it! Knock it off!" Yet, what do I say everytime we finish a ride? Yep--I love you.

Good thing he's a horse or I'm sure all my friends would be counseling me to get out of this bad relationship! He's the perfect example of why I am not married. I am attracted to the bad ones. The ones you don't take home for dinner. The ones you definitely don't marry.

The other side is probably the fact that I will win in this battle of the wills--I will get my way. I will make this partnership work. I'll end up a little battered, I know. But it'll be worth it in the long run. Two headstrong, willful, hot-tempered creatures cancel out all those negatives into a postive, right?

So there it is. Of course Jupes is mine. Who else would I have picked? We belong together.

80 is the new 30!

What great weekend! My life has been full to the brim with obligations, responsibilities, and STRESS! Last August before starting school we had a presenter come and talk to us about "emptying the cup" before trying to teach. I read his book and have tried to follow his advice within my own classroom. However, I forgot about my cup! Well, this weekend I emptied my cup. I think I will be able to be sane for the next week and it will probably be safer for everyone who has to work with me.

Friday was not only 11-11-11, but it was Shirley's 80th birthday! At 11:11, we were out on the trail. She said repeatedly it was the best way to spend her birthday. With all those elevens, I think this next year can be nothing but special for Shirley and since we are blessed to be part of her life--it will be special for us, too. I hope Lynn and I will be able to spend our 80th birthdays the same way--out riding the Hennessey--and even more, I hope we can all be horse camping on Alisa's 80th!

Saturday, we met up with Alisa and were introduced to Travlyn Chexs, also known as Keota. We spent a few hours at Swasey Creek riding the Meiner Loop and that starts with an L (?). It was Keota's first trip with us and Alisa's first time riding him away from his home territory and without his family. He saw bicycles and went through manzanita tunnels just fine. We found out he is a snorter when it comes to things he is unsure of! Other than reaching out to the behind of the horse in front of him, he was very good. He got a little nervous leading the string, but he did just fine. He is a beauty for sure. Our time together went by too quickly; but I am excited that we are going to try to ride all winter over in the Redding area where the weather is mild. Jupiter is getting new shoes this week, so we will be ready whenever we get the call.

We were back on the trail again Sunday--this time down and around the Hennessey. I thought maybe Jupes would be a little tired from two days of riding, but he wasn't tired enough to not have a little tantrum. He humped and jumped and kicked his feet out, but although I screamed (I guess like Lynn says, "a little girl") I stayed on and jerked him up and told him to "knock it off" and I got my way. He might be a pistol, but I am used to having my way, doggone it! (:

This ends my weekend--but I will tell the story of Lynn and the frog when I have more time.

The way to Heaven is on horseback

"Get Rusty!" Shirley hollered from her deck. Lynn was out catching Ziggy and, well, Buster, because he is catchable. Lynn just shook her head at her mom. Pretty soon Shirley was back on the deck, screeching to Lynn down in the bottom field, "Get Rusty!" Star was still running around the field, "Ha, ha. Can't catch me." Under her breath, Lynn muttered, "You're getting this one. If you don't like it, catch your own damn horse." I think Shirley yelled three times for her to "Get Rusty!" The third time, she had enough, so she yelled back, "Rusty's DEAD!!"

It became funnier when the two of them finally caught up to each other in the field and they thought about how clear the air is and what the neighbors must be thinking: "Oh, how sad. I wonder which one was Rusty."

Anyway, Jupes and I had a great two days this weekend. Yesterday, we worked on trotting and listening. He did everything I asked him to do and I felt incredibly comfortable in the saddle. It was if everything just gelled. Then, on the way back, he and I rode in circles around the bushes at the trailhead. It was like he kicked into a memory and said, "I know how to do this." In fact, I'll bet he was doing lead (leg?) changes like on TV. (Even without a stinkin' arena!) Of course it had nothing to do with anything I was doing, but he felt smooth and happy. (: Today we also did some bushwacking and he was perfect.

Big Al is turning out to not be a good fit for Alisa and all I can say is that I hope and pray she finds a perfect match for her like Jupiter is for me.

"Nothing is more sacred as the bond between a horse and a rider. No other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on, because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, and the very existence dies also."- Stephanie M Thorn

Big Al comes home

As of Saturday, Big Al has a new home and Odie has someone to ding around with. Alisa drove off the mountain and picked up Al from his one-time owner who had been considering keeping him. Lynn and I have had many conversations about this very topic--I couldn't have done it. The woman who owned Al foaled him. He grew up in her pastures and has been part of her family for six years. I am sure she let him go for purely unselfish reasons: he went to a good home where he will "have a job" as she put it. She did not have the time to put into riding and training him, but it was obvious she loved him. Al is lucky--he will have had two wonderful people who love him and will look out for his best interests.

Alisa said Al loaded and rode well. He was calm and not a problem unloading. Odie immediately began showing him the ropes and seemed happy for the company. Alisa ran the weedeater, painted, and hung around to make sure they were fine, but it seems like all is well. I think it was meant to be!

Here at home, we went on short ride up the Hennessey. Lynn is pretty sore, and according to the chiropractor, has some torn tendons or ligaments (or both!) in her back. Trotting was a definite no-no. It was beautiful ride and I loved being with Jupiter after a month's layoff. Shirley got to run some cows with Buster and on the way back to meet up with us, got a little speed up and Buster showed off a little sliding stop. She was grinning from ear to ear and said, "That was fun!" I think it all brought Buster up a little more in her esteem.

It's supposed to rain this week, but hopefully next Sunday (after Church) we can do it again. Fall is in the air and we need to get in as much riding as we can before it's winter.

No score

Lynn and Alisa went off horse shopping in Oregon. I guess they met two really nice cowboys (young & working hard) with horses for sale. Green horses. Alisa was looking at nice horse named Tommy and the boys decided to take them for a ride. Either Lynn picked out or one of the boys picked out roan for her to ride. He seemed nice--one of those pocket nuzzlers. Then she got on. Well, then they went a wild ride in the pickup to the trail head and then she got on. Anyway, immediately she knew he wasn't "right." It's my understanding that when everyone else headed out on the trail, this one turned around and headed back, bucking to beat the band. Lynn said she thought she might have stayed on for five seconds, but we all know that's not long enough for a score. Sorry, cowgirl, as the announcers say. (:

Then one of the boys rode him, I guess the roan didn't have as many hops left in him, because the cowboy made his eight seconds when he took off bucking again. (I'm sure that's what it was, Lynn.) I didn't hear much about Tommy--I guess he was sweet and behaved himself, but I did hear then about the paint that was Lynn's substitute. He didn't want to go down an embankment and through a little creek. So Lynn had to walk and coax him through it and get her boots wet (but at least she didn't fall back down the slope into the water, which also became a possibility). So did the cowboy have to make the paint go?

On the phone I heard a lot about "stick-necked" horses and the desire to swear (something Lynn never does). I probably would have said how pretty they were or something equally inane about the horses, which would have given Lynn an opportunity to say, "Pretty is as pretty does." However, she did say she would take any of our horses over any of theirs--even Indy, which is saying a lot!!

Poor Lynn, not a good day ahorseback. But a good day for Ziggy, because in comparision, he looks better and better. (I think his probation is probably over!) Again, I don't know much about Tommy, but I heard Al is hanging in there. (: